Clasp for cuffs and the like



1952 G. G. STAVROPOULOS EIAL CLASP FOR CUFFS AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 15, 1949 a s as: WI u avro oz: 0 5am Sta r/rofioulos Patented Feb. 12, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLASP FOR CUFFS AND THE LIKE Gus G. Stavropoulos and Sam Stavropoulos, Chicago, Ill.

Application'september 15, 1949, Serial N 0. 115,794

- without overlap. When applied in place, the

clasp covers the button which is usually very plain in appearance.

The present clasp which is designed to be used with the plies of a shirt cuff whose plies are so disposed, comprises a base whereon is mounted a stop that passes through the buttonhole to engage the inner face of the plyopposite thereto; and also an ornamental cover plate, hinged to the base and adapted to be swung down over the button to enclose it completely. When so positioned, a spring associated with the stop will serve to hold the cover. in its closure position. The two plies of the sleeve are thereupon secured firmly together in confronting relation and without overlap.

The present clasp has numerous advantages from the standpoints of simplicity, fewness of parts, and ornamental character. It may be readily applied to the cuff of a shirt, or be removed therefrom. There' need be no conversion of the shirt in order to receive the clasp.

These and other advantages of our invention will appear hereinafter from the detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective view showing in separated relation the opposite sides of the cuff of a shirt to which the present clasp is applied;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the clasp, looking down upon its cover;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the clasp;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section, taken on the ofiset line Fig. 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view through the cuff of a shirt to which the present clasp is applied, parts of the latter being also shown in section; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the spring end of the stop which is carried by a the clasp base.

In the present device a base I0 is provided in the long arm of a J -bar one end of which may be formed-into an ornamental head H such as the figure of a heart which is shown best in Fig. 1. .At the opposite end, the J-bar is curved 2 at l'2 through nearly 180, and its short arm terminates in a beveled end l4 (see Fig. 5). Carried by the J-bar is a stop in the general form of a strap having at one end a strut [6 extending away from the bar and then lengthwise thereof at IT to provide a rest in spaced relation thereto, and then toward the bar again at I8. From this point on the stop proceeds parallel with the bar, as at 20, where it is con- 1 nected thereto as by welding or brazing, and

then at 2! is curved around the end of the bar and inwardly thereof, terminating in a free end spring portion 22 which extends outwardly slightly beyond the beveled end Id of the bar. The rounded corner l9 where the strut it joins with the rest if is desirably serrated for a purpose that will presently appear.

There is also included in the assembly a dished cover plate 25 having a generally rounded contour of such size as to receive the ordinary but ton b which is carried by one ply m of the shirt cufi for cooperation with the buttonhole h that is formed in the other end ply y. This cover plate is extended laterally at 26, and its flanged marginal walls are apertured to receive a pair of trunnions 21 which are oppositely extended from the free spring end 22 of the stop. In this way a hinge connection is provided for the cover plate so that it may swing from a position of engagement with the rest ll '(see Fig. 3) 'to an open position as per Fig. 5. It will be obvious that application of the clasp to the cuif of a shirt will require that this cover plate be open, but when the stop has been inserted through the buttonhole h to abut the opposite ply of the sleeve upon its inner side, the cover plate is then ready to be swung down over the button b to enclose it completely. In case there be no button, either. purposely or accidentally, the

- cover plate will advance to the same engaging position on the cuff ply :r, and in so doing will clamp a small piece of the cuff fabric between its flanged marginal walls'and the round corner l9 which is serrated to enhance the clamping effect so provided (see Fig. 3).

In executing its swinging movements, the end 30 of the cover which lies proximate to the beveled end Hi of the J-bar is required to engage therewith (see Fig. 3). In the open position of Fig. 5 the end 30 of the cover will have swung down to a point where the inner corner of the J-ba'r end it remains engaged with the outer corner of the closure plate. There is sufiicient resiliency in the J-bar and/or the spring 22 whereon the cover plate is mounted; to maintain a slight pressure against the end 30 of the cover plate when in its open position, as shown. Further opening movement of the cover plate is prevented by the barrier presented by the beveled end M of the J-bar. When the cover plate is closed, however, the outer corner at the end 30 of the cover plate will engage the beveled end I4 of the J-bar with an increasing pressure such as to force the latter outwardly in order that the cover plate may continue its movement to the closed position shown in Fig. 3. Here the outer corner of the closure end 30 is engaged by the outer corner of the beveled end 14 of the J-bar, maintaining therewith a pressure that is suflicient to hold the cover plate against the rest I! or the cuif that may be engaged therewith.

While the spring action of the parts which support and engage with the cover plate is ordinarily sufficient to assure its retention in closed position, we have nevertheless provided auxiliary means whereby to assure that the cover plate will be so maintained. In the form shown, this locking means consists of a button 35 of ornamental character having a shank 36 which extends therefrom and through a slot 31 in the cover plate to connect with a strap 38 on the underside thereof. This strap extends toward and between the hinge connection afforded by the trunnions 21, and at its extremity is formed with a downturned lip 40 which is adapted to rest upon the free end spring portion 22 of the stop when the button 35 is shifted to one end position, as shown in Fig. 3. It will be obvious that a lock is thereby provided which will prevent opening movement of the cover plate. However, if the button be shifted to the other end position, as shown in Fig. 5, the lip 40 will be advanced outwardly from between the trunnions 21 so that the cover plate is free to be swung upwardly into open position. By the means described, we have provided a simple yet effective positive lock for securing the cover plate in closed position, thereby assuring retention of the clasp on the cufi.

The present clasp is characterized by a base,

'aiforded by the J-bar, and a swinging cover between which two plies of a shirt cuff may be received with the buttton on one exterior face in position to be enclosed by the cover. There is also provision made for locking the cover in its closed position so that it may not work loose to on open position. Anchorage of the clasp onto the cuff is assured by the stay which is extended through the buttonhole to engage with the inner face of the further ply, thereby providing a support therefor. The marginal walls of the cover, when surrounding the button, will also resist any tendency of the clasp to separate from the cuff. A spring pressure is exerted on the cover to hold it either open or closed, and for this purpose we utilize the free end of the strap which constitutes the stay; the pivotal axis of the hinge connection with the cover is so located relative to the end of the J-bar that the cover end proximate thereto is caused to engage therewith, both to hold the cover down in closed position and to hold it up in open position. These operational characteristics are provided by the spring mounting for the cover which is part of the stay, thereby obviating any requirement for a separate spring.

In the description and illustration herein presented, we have referred to a cuff of two plies, but obviously the present clasp is applicable without modification to a cuff of two or four plies, all

with buttonholes therein, 1. e. a French cuff, and the language we have used both hereinbefore and in the claims should be so understood. The presence of a button is entirely unimportant. If attached in place it is without function when overlaid by the cover plate, and if missing the fact thereof is concealed by the cover plate.

The possibilities of variation in contour and ornamental character of the present clasp are too numerous to mention or illustrate. Suffice to say the clasp may be produced in very attractive form, be substantially made, will remain in place when once applied, and be produced at small cost due in large part to the simplicity and fewness of its parts.

We claim:

1. For application to cuffs of shirts and the like having two plies arranged with their meeting edges substantially coincident and with a buttonhole in at least one ply, a clasp comprising a J-bar having long and short arms, a rest carried by the long arm and extended through the buttonhole of one ply to engage the inner face of the other ply for support thereof, a spring mounting extended from the rest to a point adjacent the free end of the short arm of the J-bar, and a. cover hinged to the spring mounting to lie opposite the long arm to receive the two plies of the cuff between itself and the long arm of the J-bar, and means on the cover engageable with the free end of the short arm of the J-bar coacting with the spring mounting for urging the cover toward the rest and against the outer face of the supported ply to hold the same thereagainst in spaced relation to the buttonhole ply.

2. For application to cufis or shirts and the like having two plies arranged with their meeting edges substantially coincident and with a button on the outer face of one ply opposite a buttonhole in the other ply, a clasp comprising a J-bar having long and short arms, a spring mounting adjacent the free end of the short arm of the J-bar, a cover hinged to the spring mounting to lie opposite the long arm to receive the two plies of the cuff between itself and the long arm of the J-bar, a rest carried by the long arm extended through the buttonhole of one ply to engage the inner face of the other ply for sup port thereof, means on the cover and the short arm of the J-bar coacting with the spring mounting for urging the cover toward the rest and against the outer face of the supported ply to hold the same thereagainst in spaced relation to the buttonhole ply, the cover having a marginal flange extended toward the ply for enclosure of the button exposed upon the outer face thereof, and means carried by the cover shiftable between two positions on opposite sides of its hinge axis and operating in one of them to engage the spring mounting to lock the cover in its closed position of engagement with the outer face of the supported ply.

3. For application to cuffs of shirts and the like having two plies arranged with the meeting edges substantially coincident and with a buttonhole in at least one ply, a clasp comprising a J -bar having long and short arms, a spring mounting carried by the J-bar at a point adjacent the free end of the short arm thereof, a cover hinged to the spring mounting to lie opposite the long arm to receive the two plies of the end between itself and the long arm of the J-bar, means on the cover and J-bar coacting with the spring mounting for urging the cover toward the outer face of the proximate ply, and locking means carried by the cover and shiftable between two positions in one of which it is engaged with the spring mounting to lock the cover in its closed position of engagement with the proximate ply of the cult.

4. For application to cuffs of shirts and the like having two plies arranged with their meeting edges substantially coincident and with a buttonhole in at least one ply, a clasp comprising a J-bar having long and short arms, a strap affixed to the J-bar and extended inwardly thereof for insertion through the buttonhole of one ply to engage the inner face of the other ply to provide therefor a rest in which the supported ply is maintained in spaced relation to the buttonhole ply, the strap being extended reversely and inwardly of the short arm of the J-bar and free thereof to provide a spring mounting, and a cover hinged to the spring mounting and in pressure engagement with the free end of the J-bar to be urged thereby toward the rest and against the outer face of the cult ply supported thereby.

5. For application to cuffs of shirts and the like having two plies arranged with their meeting edges substantially coincident and with a buttonhole in at least one ply, a clasp comprising a base with a stop extended therefrom for insertion through the ply buttonhole to engage with the inner face of the other ply to provide a rest therefor, a cover associated with and engaged by the base and having a spring hinge mounting to receive pressure from the base urging the cover to swing toward the rest and against the outer face of the supported ply for engagement therewith, and means carried by the cover movable toward and from the spring hinge mounting for engagement therewith at a point eccentrically of its axis to lock the cover fixedly in its closed position relative to the supported ply.

6. For application to cuffs of shirts and the like having two plies arranged with their meeting edges substantially coincident and with a buttonhole in at least one ply, a clasp comprising a base, a cover, means carried by the base providing a hinge mounting for the cover, the base and cover being adapted to receive between them the two plies of the cuff, means providing a rest for the ply proximate to the cover to maintain the said ply in a, fixed position wherein it is engaged by the cover when closed, and locking means carried by the cover movable between two positions in one of which the hinge mounting is engaged at a point eccentrically of its axis to prevent opening movement of the cover from its closed position of engagement with the proximate ply.

7. For application to cuffs of shirts and the like having two plies arranged with their meeting edges substantially coincident and with a button on the outer face of one ply opposite a buttonhole in the other ply, a clasp comprising a base, a cover, means for establishing a hinge connection between the base and cover, the cover and base being adapted to receive between them the two plies of the cuff, a rest extended from the base toward the cover and insertible through the buttonhole of one ply to engage with the inner face of the other ply to provide therefor a support at a point spaced from the buttonhole ply, a marginal flange on the cover extended toward the proximate ply, and of a size to enclose the button aflixed to the outer face thereof when the cover is in closed position thereupon, and locking means carried by the cover and movable between two positions in one of which it is engaged with the base eccentrically of the hinge connection with the cover to prevent opening movement of the cover from a closed position where it encloses the button.

GUS G. STAVROPOULOS. SAM STAVROPOULOS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,192,101 Obsboum July 25, 1916 2,535,139 Kanarek Dec. 26, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 797,129 France Feb. 3, 1936 

